Lawrence Hall, HSG
Mhall46184@aol.com
You Meet the
Nicest People in Hospitals
I have spent much of this year so far in and out of the
hospital for surgeries, E.R. visits, therapy, and recovery, and repeats of all
of the above, which have been not merely individual lessons but a densely
structured curriculum in humility and gratitude.
Among the nicest people one meets in hospitals are those professionals
who don’t have the good roles in the medical movies or television shows: the
cleaners, food service workers, the young men and women who wheel you out to
the car after your adventures, and other folks who are essential to the
ministry of healing.
I don’t think I met a one who wasn’t in school or putting
someone else through school.
One wheelchair pusher was a young man putting himself
through university for a degree in engineering.
Another young man was putting in all the hours he could so
his wife could attend nursing school. The plan was that after she passed her
state boards he would then attend nursing school himself.
Yet another young man was burning that metaphorical
candle at both ends at the hospital and in school to be a pipefitter.
One nice lady was retired, her children grown and gone,
and though she didn’t need the job she enjoyed visiting with people. She was
also thinking of applying for an LVN program.
One of the young food-service workers delivered trays with
unfailing good cheer and merry banter. I asked him if he had considered
studying to be a dietitian but he wasn’t sure if that was his calling. He
certainly shares the gift of happiness, though, which might be a vocation in
itself along long corridors where happiness can be in short supply.
By the way, if you ask nicely you might score another
Jell-O.
During an otherwise grim visit to the E.R. I watched a
young orderly or attendant who, along with his many other duties, entertained little
children and carried in his pockets a Santa Claus-ish trove of little Barbies
and race cars and other toys to share with them.
Just think – he might be a pediatric nurse or physician
someday.
Yes, you meet the nicest people in hospitals.
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